It has been a great day for the family crew pairings on the first day of the 2009 Mirror World Championship in Pwllheli, North Wales. All three races were won by brother and sister or father and son teams.

Chris and Jessica RUST from Brightlingsea SC lead the Championship with an impressive two, three, seven scoreline. With only one discard available in the 12 race series, Chris said that he and his sister had adopted a conservative approach on the startline. Nevertheless they managed to round the top mark in the top ten in all today's races. Downwind they say they focused hard on keeping clear lanes and were able to make gains on leg.
Three points behind in second place overall are twin siblings Ed and Beth GREY who bulleted the first race of the day in fine style. After winning the pin end of the line they were soon able to tack and cross the fleet and rounded the first mark in second place. They took the lead on the first reach and were never challenged from then onwards. Royal Windermere YC members Ed and Beth won the Mirror Swedish Championship in 2008 and said conditions on the water today made for superb sailing. "The downwind legs were great, with plenty of surfing opportunities; going upwind was more difficult in the monster waves" said Ed.

In third place at the end of day one are Hugo SLOPER and Emma SPRUCE from Hillhead SC, who also put together a solidly consistent series. Their pair of fourths backed up with an eighth, leaves them just one point adrift of second overall. Fourth placed Andy and Tom SMITH from Notts County Sailing Club pulled off a comprehensive win in the final race, showing some blistering downwind speed to build up a big lead by the finish. Having finished second in race two, only their first race 16th marred an otherwise excellent day on the racecourse. Charlotte FITZGERALD and Annie SIBTHORP from Itchenor SC won the second race of the day. Their first race seventh and final race 11th leave them in fifth place overall. The race committee had a real challenge today to get the fleet away cleanly and had to regularly resort to using the dreaded black flag to keep the competitors in check. However despite a shifting breeze and some particularly lumpy conditions they were able to set excellent courses for all three races. With 99 boats racing in the Championship fleet it is no surprise that the International Jury had a clutch of protests to deal with this evening.

Meanwhile the 14 strong Beach Worlds fleet were also getting in on the action. A new initiative for the Mirror Class, this division has been introduced to give some championship experience for those sailors who are not quite ready for the cut and thrust of the main fleet. Racing in the sheltered waters just off Abererch Beach the emphasis is on making sure the competitors have a fun day on the water. Judging by the smiling faces on the sailors as they came ashore the first day can be judged a success. The Beach Worlds fleet is very much a part of the overall World Championship regatta and are included in all the onshore activities.

Racing at the 2009 Mirror World Championship continues tomorrow with a later start time of 12 midday and just two races scheduled.

Tom Burton (AUS) and Alison Young (GBR) hit the right note in the Laser and Laser Radial at ISAF Sailing World Cup Melbourne as they took out the top honours and qualification spots to the 2015 ISAF Sailing World Cup Final.

It was double Australian gold in the Paralympic classes. Matt Bugg (AUS) came out on top in the 2.4mR whilst London 2012 Paralympic SKUD18 gold medallists Dan Fitzgibbon and Liesl Tesch (AUS) were triumphant in the two person keelboat.

Lithuania's Juozas Bernotas came out on top in the Men's RS:X whilst Russia's Stefania Elfutina was triumphant in the Women's RS:X. Both sailors claim the first Abu Dhabi ISAF Sailing World Cup Final spots whilst Jock Calvert (AUS) and Joanna Sterling (AUS) picked up the Oceanic spots for the Emirati finale.

There was some fast paced action in the 49er and 49erFX Medal Races at ISAF Sailing World Cup Melbourne as Nathan Outteridge & Iain Jensen (AUS) and Maia & Ragna Agerup (NOR) claimed the honours and Abu Dhabi final spots.

A tight group of five young Papua New Guinean (PNG) Laser sailors are stepping up their 2015 Pacific Games competition program using this week's ISAF Sailing World Cup Melbourne. PNG is one of 33 countries represented at the important Oceanic event, the largest Olympic sailing regatta in the southern hemisphere.

Nicolai Sehested (DEN) and his TREFOR Match Racing Team clinched victory today at the Energa Sopot Match Race, Poland, the 10th stage and World Championship Event of the 2015 World Match Racing Tour (WMRT).

There was no stopping current, and five-time ISAF Match Racing World Champion Ian Williams (GBR), GAC Pindar today at the Energa Sopot Match Race as he swiftly dispatched his Quarter Final opponent Joachim Aschenbrenner (DEN) in three straight wins.

The International Sailing Federation (ISAF) continues to address concerns and is taking steps to ensure the health and safety of all athletes who will be competing in the upcoming Aquece Rio, Olympic Test Event and the Rio 2016 Olympic Sailing Competition.

Veteran Polish match racer and America's Cup helmsman Karol Jablonski skilfully played the gusty conditions today to lead the twelve strong field of teams at the end of Day 2 of Qualifying at the 2015 Energa Sopot Match Race.